Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 7 May 2003

Vol. 566 No. 1

Written Answers. - Hospital Waiting Lists.

Willie Penrose

Question:

113 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Health and Children if the targets set out in the national health strategy for reducing hospital waiting lists for 2002 have been met; the targets for 2003; if he expects them to be met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12020/03]

Willie Penrose

Question:

131 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Health and Children the progress which has been made towards eliminating hospital waiting lists within two years in regard to the commitment given on 6 May 2001; his views on whether this target will be met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12021/03]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 113 and 131 together.

The overall target set out in the national health strategy states that by the end of 2004 all public patients requiring admission to hospital will be scheduled to commence treatment within a maximum of three months of referral from an out-patient department. Intermediate targets have been set to achieve this aim to ensure that the focus is being turned towards those waiting longest for treatment.

The target for 2002 was that no adult would wait longer than 12 months and no child would wait longer than six months to commence treatment. Despite pressures on the acute hospital system and the influence of factors such as the winter vomiting bug considerable progress has been made by health agencies in reducing waiting times for public patients in 2002. The total number of children waiting for more than six months for in-patient treatment has fallen by 24% between June and September 2002. The total number of adults waiting for more than 12 months for in-patient treatment in the nine target surgical specialties covered by the waiting list initiative has fallen by 15% between June and September 2002. Waiting list data in respect of the quarter ending December 2002 will be published shortly.

While the waiting list initiative will continue to fund additional elective activity, the dedicated national treatment purchase fund, NTPF, is being used to target those waiting longest for treatment. Funding of €43.8 million has been provided in 2003 for the waiting list initiative and €31 million has been provided for the NTPF. The NTPF has capacity available to arrange treatment for those adults who have been waiting more than 12 months and children who have been waiting more than six months. To date, approximately 4,000 of those on the list for a long time have received treatment under the NTPF.